Adam Walker

President

Adam R. Walker, a Portland resident and Funeral Director is owner of Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home.   He has over 15 years experience in the funeral industry.  Adam has a genuine desire to serve each family with the highest consistent level of service excellence that Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes are known for. He is a naturally empathetic and understanding individual and is dedicated to providing compassionate care to families during what may be the worst time of their life. Adam recognizes the importance of active and positive community involvement. As such, he is on the board of the Maine Funeral Directors Association, a member of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus Council 101 and will be inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In addition, he is a former board member of Hospice of Southern Maine and The Center for Grieving Children. He and his family are communicants of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and they proudly support several community events, programs and organizations.

Outside of his service to our community, Adam is a family man. Whether it's boating, hiking or walking the beach, or watching the Patriots, he enjoys spending all of his free time with his wife, Caitlin, their daughter, Eleanor, and their beloved pooch, Newbie.

Jason Smart

President-Elect

Jason K. Smart is an Old Town Native and currently resides there with his family. With over 20 years of experience in the funeral profession, his journey has brought him from Old Town to Portland and now serving the communities of Lincoln and Millinocket. He has a high level of professionalism and standards that he adheres to; treating the families he meets and interacting with the level of care and compassion that was once offered to his family during a difficult loss in their lives. Jason become a licensed funeral director in 2019 while working at Conroy-Tully Walker. Following the loss of his son in 2020, Jason and his family relocated back to Old Town to be closer to family and currently works for Bowers Funeral Home in Lincoln. Jason, his wife, Ashley; son, Avery; daughters, Maizey and Hazel. In his spare time, Jason enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and anything else outdoors.

Christopher Ladner

Immediate Past President

Christopher C. Ladner is a second generation Maine Licensed Funeral Director and managing director at the Brackett Funeral Home, Brunswick.   He is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, as well as having earned a B.A. from Colgate University and a M.A.L.S from Wesleyan University, CT.   He promotes and supports both youth athletics and the performing arts in his community.  Christopher and his wife, Ann, gratefully share their lives in Brunswick with their five daughters and several pets.

Lisa Pate

Treasurer

Lisa Pate became a Licensed Director with the State of Maine in 2017. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fine Mortuary College and received Dodge Corporation's Restorative Art Award.   Lisa also graduated from Bentley College in 1987 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems and an Associate’s Degree in Management.  After college, Lisa worked at IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook as a Human Resource Information Systems Analyst, then left to work part-time at Saco Valley Credit Union for over 16 years in order to raise her children. 

Lisa is an active member of the Saco community including:

• Saco Bay Rotary Club - Member
• Buxton Garden Club - Member/Vice President
  

She lives in Saco with her husband, Jim and their children, Jonathan and Katherine.

Erik Tiner

Secretary

Erik has served families in the funeral service profession since 2003, bringing experience in all aspects of funeral care. His decision to enter the funeral industry was inspired by the compassion and support shown to his own family during a time of loss. That experience left a lasting impression and shaped his commitment to providing comfort, dignity, and guidance to every family he serves.

Erik is a graduate of Lewiston High School, the Funeral Institute of the Northeast, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Kaplan University.

Deeply involved in his community, Erik is a member of the Auburn Masonic Lodge and The Links at Poland Spring. He has served as a former board member of the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth and Make-A-Wish Maine. He is also a former board member and president of the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce and continues to remain an active member. In addition, Erik is proud to serve as the head coach of the Lewiston High School golf team, his alma mater.

Erik is a proud father of three sons working in the Coast Guard, public service, and construction management. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, camping, and hiking with his wife and family, including their sons, grandson, twin granddaughters, and newest granddaughter in Kodiak, Alaska.

Brian Coffta

Board Member At Large

Brian and his wife Darcy grew up in Western New York and relocated to Maine over 23 years ago and now call Maine home. For over 10 years he worked for local independent funeral homes in southern Maine prior to joining the team at Jones, Rich and Barnes in Portland. Since joining the Dignity Memorial team Brian has worked in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts and he is happy to be back home in Maine where his heart is. Brian, his wife Darcy, and their son Benjamin enjoy family time fishing, boating, and summer beach days and on occasion, you may see him attempting to play golf. You may have seen Darcy and Ben in the past at several MFDA events. Brian is a past president of the Sanford/Springvale Rotary Club, a former member of the St. Thomas School Board, a parishioner of the St. Therese of Liseux Parish in Sanford, and volunteer for Waban Projects of Southern Maine. Brian is asking for the opportunity to serve the people of Maine and the great funeral directors that work here and promises that if elected his dedication will be to the funeral directors of Maine and the businesses they work in.

Shawn Descoteaux

Board Member At Large

Shawn Descoteaux is the Managing Director of Hope Memorial Chapel. A lifelong resident of Biddeford, he graduated from Biddeford High School before earning a degree from University of Massachusetts, Stockbridge School of Agriculture in Amherst, MA. He started his career working at the University of New England in Biddeford, but always held a desire to work in funeral service to better help local families in a more direct way. After the death of his father in 2015, and with John Conroy and his family’s encouragement, he decided to change careers and attend American Academy McAllister to become a funeral director at the age of 39. He graduated with honors and has worked at Hope ever since, achieving his lifelong dream. After training with John for years, he was handpicked for the manager position. Outside of work, Shawn has been a long-time baseball coach. He was involved in the Biddeford High School varsity baseball program for over 20 years and coached the University of New England club baseball team. He is a member of Saco Bay Rotary, St. James School Board in Biddeford, and the Goodwins Mills Cemetery Association. In his spare time, he enjoys being a member of Dutch Elm Golf Course in Arundel, spending time with his family, and connecting with members of the community. Shawn married Celeste Gagne in 2001 and together have raised three children. The family lives in Biddeford and are members of the Good Shepherd Parish.

Joseph Kiley

Board Member At Large

Joe Kiley has worked in the family business for 30 years at Kiley & Foley Funeral Service with locations in Bangor and Brewer. He became licensed in the early 1990’s and been an MFDA member since this time. Joe is married to Heather Kiley and they have three children, Bryant, Andrew and Sarah. He is a graduate from the University of Maine, 1993, with a Bachelors in Business Administration. Joe also  received an Associates Degree in Mortuary Science from the New England Institute, graduating in 1989. Joe's uncle,  Lawrence Kiley, established Kiley Funeral Home in 1963 and Joe worked with him from mid 1980’s until his death in 2011. He partnered with John Birmingham from mid the 1980’s until the mid 1990’s operating as Kiley-Birmingham Funeral Home. He worked with Frank Foley in Bangor (Foley Funeral Service since early 1990’s). Joe purchased Foley Funeral Service in 2007 and has been operating as Kiley & Foley Funeral Service since. Joe enjoys attending his children’s sporting events and activities, making a little home brew and playing recreation men’s ice hockey to keep the ‘structure’ moving.

Eric Nelson

Board Member At Large

Eric Nelson, a Funeral Director and owner of Hall Funeral Home in Casco, Maine, has extensive experience in the funeral service industry including as a cemetery sexton and memorialist. Born in Bridgton and a graduate of Oxford Hills High School, Eric has worked in funeral services for over 25 years. After earning his degree in Funeral Service from SUNY Canton, Eric returned to Maine working with the Wiles family for 15 years and later back to the Oxford Hills and Lakes Region, reconnecting with community and to serve local families. He actively participates in civic organizations including the Bridgton Lions Club, and the Greater Bridgton Lake Region Chamber of Commerce. He loves spending time at his camp in the Rangeley Lakes region, and with his wife, Erin and sons, Sawyer and Cooper. Eric’s dedication to the profession and his community is evident in his work and involvement.  

Casey Smith, CFSP

Board Member At Large

Casey Smith, CFSP was reared in the funeral directing business by his father, a career-long funeral director. The experience instilled in Casey a desire to compassionately meet the needs of families during the death, dying and grieving process. Throughout his career, he’s personally cared for those funeral preparation needs to allow families to focus on honoring the lives of their loved ones and the journey of healing.

Lifelong learning is important in successfully adapting to changing industries; Casey is a dedicated and deliberate student of the ideology and consistently pursues knowledge. As funeral processes evolve and the awareness of emotional needs for families uncovers greater ways to support their journey, Casey continually seeks ways to improve and grow in his field.

Casey is a graduate of Grand View University and Des Moines Area Community College. Currently, he has completed graduate work in thanatology at Marian University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He earned the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice in 2017. Experienced in both sides of the classroom, Casey served as a substitute instructor in the Des Moines Public School District.

He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Association of Death Education and Counseling, and The American Guild of Organists.